Embroidering means for sewing machines



Jan. 12; 1937.

E. PRAZAK 2,067,340

EMBROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES 6 SheetsS'heet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1936 ATi l fN Ev Jan. 12, 1937. E. PRAZAK EMBROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 7, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR jzzZBr/Za%, ga /3am ATTORNEY E. PRAZAK EM BROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Jan. 12, 1937.

Filed Jan. 7, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Era- 3% 7 ATTORNE Jan. 12, 1937. E. PRAZAK EMBROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 7 51936 Jan. 12, 1937. E. PRAZAK v EMBROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 7, 1936 6 Sheet-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1937. PRAZAK 2,067,340

EMBROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 7, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 FFICE EBIBROIDERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to means in combination with the sewing mechanism of the machine for applying to material decorative embroidery secured thereto by running stitches produced by the sewing mechanism.

This invention has for an object to provide in a sewing machine a novel means for looping a pattern thread transversely back and forth as it is laid upon the surface of the material to which it is to be applied, such looping being synchronized with the machine sewing mechanism, so that the formed loops will be engaged by the stitching produced by the latter, and thus secured in place upon the face of the material.

This invention has for a further object to provide a novel oscillatable pattern thread distributer, together with means for producing a compound oscillatory loop forming motion thereof, which is so timed or synchronized relative to the reciprocation of the sewing needles and the material advancing feed of the machine, that the formed loops are cast alternately from side to side of the runs of stitching, thus producing a continuous pattern of more or less zig-zag character.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for dividing and hemming the material intermediate the loops of the applied embroidering thread so as to produce an openwork effect Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machine equipped with the novel embroidering means according to this invention, parts being broken away to more clearly disclose the latter means; Fig. 2 is an end elevation on a somewhat enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is in part a top or plan view and part horizontal section of the machine; Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive are each fragmentary horizontal sections respectively showing various stages in the operation of the oscillatable pattern thread distributer, and Figs. 4a to 8a inclusive are corresponding end views drawn on a reduced scale; and Fig. 9 is a plan View of the transversely looped embroidery produced by the machine.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end view, similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing a modification of structure adapted to divide and hem the material intermediate the loops of the pattern, thereby producing an open-work effect; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line H-ll in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the material dividing and hemming means; Fig. 13 is a cross-section, taken on line lS-IS in Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the finished material with the open-work efiect.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character l indicates the sewing machine arm having the head 2 at its free end. Journaled in the arm I, so as to extend longitudinally therein is a drive shaft 3. Mounted in head 2, for vertical reciprocation through the usual transmission means actuated by drive shaft 3, is a needle-bar 4, which is provided at its lower end with two laterally spaced needles 5 and 6; the sewing mechanism being of the two needle type. Needles 5 and 6 cooperate with shuttle means (not shown) in the formation of running stitches. Also supported by head 2 is the usual vertically yieldable presser foot 1 which cooperates with the usual feed-dog means (not shown) by which the material 8 operated upon is controlled and advanced along the sewing table or bed 9 of the machine relative to the sewing mechanism. The thread S for producing the running stitches is served to needles 5 and 6 from spools I 0 in any customary manner.

Cooperating with the sewing mechanism of the machine is a novel arrangement of means for supplying embroidering thread I I from a spool I2, and thereupon distributing the same upon the face of the material 8 in the desired trans versely back and forth looped disposition, and in the path of the sewing needles 5 and 6, so that the running stitches produced by the operation of the latter successively secure the loops of the embroidered pattern in place as the same are progressively formed. This means for manipulating the embroidering thread ll comprises the following mechanisms:

Pivotally connected by fulcrum shaft l3 affixed to head 2 is an oscillatable carriage M, which projects from the rearward side of said head 2. Means are provided for producing a timed oscillation or rocking motion of said carriage in a vertical plane. Such means comprises a longitudinal bearing member 15 suitably secured to and offset from the machine arm I by a bracket member l6 which includes a vertical bearing [1.

Journaled in said vertical bearing I! is a vertical shaft I8, to the upper portion of which is afiixed a Worm gear i9 arranged to be driven by a worm 26 that is secured to and driven by drive shaft 3. Affixed to the lower portion of said vertical shaft I8 is a worm gear 2| which meshes with a worm 22 secured to a counter shaft 23 which is journaled in said longitudinal bearing member l5. Upon the end of counter shaft 23 adjacent to head 2 is mounted a crank-member 2 5 which is connected by a link 25 to the tail-piece 216 of said carriage Hi.

Carriage it is provided in its body with an up per bearing portion 2'! and with a lower bearing portion 28 vertically spaced therefrom by a downwardly projecting carrier arm 29. Journaled to extend through said bearing portions 2l28 is a vertical spindle 36. Afiixed to the lower free end of said spindle 36 is a forwardly extending embroidering thread distributor arm 3| having a tubular thread carrier 32 at its free end. Said distributor arm 3| extends over the presser foot I, the back of which is cut away to provide an opening 33 to pass and permit the operative movements of said distributer arm. The embroidering thread H is led through suitable tension means 34 and guide means 35, so as to extend to and through the tubular thread carrier 32 of said distributer arm 3|. Means are provided to produce a properly timed lateral oscillation of said distributer arm, the same comprising a crank 36 actuated by the drive shaft driven vertical shaft Hi. This crank 36 operates, through connecting rod 31, the oscillating lever arm 36 which is affixed to the upper end of "said spindle 30. The distributer arm 3|, since it extends over presser foot I, must be capable of yielding upwardly when the presser foot is raised for the insertion of material 8 thereunder. To this end the spindle 30 is vertically slidable as well as oscillatable in the supporting bearing portions 2l28. Fixed on the spindle 36 above the lower bearing portion 28 is a collar 39, which, by abutment upon said bearing portion 28, limits the downward movement of spindle 36 so as to dispose distributer arm 3| in normal operative position. A compression spring 36 arranged about spindle 30 between the upper bearing portion 2? and collar 39 yieldably holds the spindle 3B in downwardly moved position, yet permits upward movement thereof so that distributer arm 3| may be lifted by and with presser foot 'i, when the latter is raised. The pivotal connections between the connecting rod 37 and oscillating lever arm 38 and between said connecting rod and crank 36 are of ball and socket type, so as to readily yield to and accommodate the rising and falling movement of said spindle 36, as well as to accommodate itself to the rocking oscillations of carriage It.

In the operationbf the machine, material 8 having been inserted beneath the presser foot 1 and distributer arm 3|, and these parts having been lowered to operative position, operating power may be applied to drive shaft 3 whereby the material feed and sewing mechanism is actuated, and, synchronously therewith, the embroidering thread H is distributed in the transversely back and forth looped disposition in the path of the sewing needles so as to be affixed, by the running stitches produced by the latter, to the material.

Assuming the starting position of the embr0id ering thread distributing means to be that shown in Figs. 4 and 4a, wherein the distributer arm 3| is swung to the left with the free end of thread carrier 32 advanced slightly forward beyond the path of reciprocation of the needles 5-6, at which time said needles are descending from raised position to initiate a stitch forming operation. Under such conditions the crank 36 is substantially disposed at the limit of its throw toward the right, whereby, through the lever arm 38, spindle 36 is turned to swing distributer arm to the left; and crank 23 is substantially disposed at the bottom limit of its throw, whereby carriage M is rocked to carry the distributer arm 3| to the stated forwardly projected position. In such position of the thread carrier 32, the embroidering thread H is carried in front of the vertical path of movement of the left needle 5, so that the latter descends behind the thus positioned embroidering thread. As left needle 5 starts downwardly toward material 8, crank 24 starts on its rising rearward phase of its throw, thus swinging carriage |4 upwardly and consequently swinging rearwardly the vertically disposed spindle 36, thus retracting distributer arm 3|, and crank 36 starting simultaneously on the leftward phase of its throw, initiates a lateral swinging of thread carrier from left to right, so that embroidering thread H is looped around the path of said left needle 5 (see Figs. 5 and 5a). As left needle 5 penetrates material 8 within the left loop Z thus formed, the thr ad S is carried over the rear side of said loop I as the descending left needle 5 completes a running stitch and, in rising, initiates a succeeding running stitch, the feed mechanism carries on the material 8 one step, so that when left needle again descends said succeeding stitch is carried over the forward side of loop I. In the meantime crank 24 completes the rising rearward phase of its throw and proceeds upon the descending forward phaseof its throw, thereby swinging carriage M downwardly and consequently swinging forwardly the vertically disposed spindle 36, thus advancing the distrib uter arm 3| as the material 8 is carried on, while at the same time crank 36 continues on the leftward phase of its throw so that distributer arm 3| continues to swing from left to right, thus completing a left loop of the embroidering thread (see Figs. 6 and 6a). While crank 36 is completing the leftward phase of its throw, crank 24 completes its downward phase of throw, thus again advancing distributer arm 3| and embroidering thread carrier 32 while swung to the right and beyond the path of movement of right needle 6 (see Figs. 7 and 7a). As right needle 6 starts downwardly toward material 8, crank 24 again starts on its rising rearward phase of its throw, thus again swinging carriage Hiunwardly and consequently swinging rearwardly the vertically disposed spindle 30, thus again retracting distributer arm 3|, while at the same time crank 36 starts on the rightward phase of its throw, thereby initiating a lateral swinging of thread carrier from right to left, so that embroidering thread is looped around the path of said right needle 6 (see Figs. 8 and 8a) As right needle 6 penetrates material 8 within the right loop Z thus formed, the thread S sewn by right needle 6 is carried over the rear side of said loop Z as descending right needle 6 completes a running stitch and, in rising, initiates a succeeding running stitch, which, as the material 8 is again carried on by the feed mechanism and needle 6 again descends to complete the same, is carried over the forward side of said loop I, whereupon distributer arm is swung on from right to left to begin a succeeding cycle of the above described embroidering thread distributing and looping operations. In this manner the embroidering thread is looped back and forth transversely and the formed loop stitched down securely to material 8, so as to produce the embroidering effect as shown in Fig. 9.

The arrangement is very simple, and the distributing of the embroidering thread being attained by continuous smoothly running crank actuated means, the action may be carried on at high speed with utmost efficiency. It will be noted that crank 24 performs its work in a two to one ratio relative to crank 36, and consequently carriage H3 and distributer arm 3| perform a complete forward and back oscillation accompanying both the left to right and right to left swinging movements of distributer arm 3| imparted by a single complete rotative cycle of crank 35. The operations are in properly timed relation to the running stitch forming operations of the two-needle sewing mechanism, so that the formed loops of embroidering thread are stitched down to the material 8 over both their rearward and forward sides, and consequently are very securely held in place, so that a uniform and symmetrical design is assured.

Referring now to Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive, a modification of the invention is shown whereby the material upon which the looped embroidering thread is applied may be divided and hemmed intermediate the oppositely extending loops, to produce open-work effect. To accomplish this result, in addition to the mechanism above described for applying the embroidering thread I l, the needle bar 4 is provided with a bracket 4|, projecting forwardly therefrom, to which is secured a downwardly extending cutter-blade 42 adapted to be vertically reciprocated with the needles, and in front thereof. Fixed on sewing table 9, in advance of the path of needle movement, is a raised material support 43 having a bifurcated or trough-like end, the laterally spaced arms 44 of which lift the material 8 and then hold the same raised above sewing table 9 as it approaches the path of the cutter-blade 42; the latter reciprocating centrally between said arms 44. Intermediate the ends of the arms 44 and the needles 5-6 are fixed a pair of turn-over or hemmer guides 45. The machine presser foot '1 is modified in form to provide a bifurcated free end portion, the legs I of which straddle the said hemmer guides 45 and material support 43. Carried by said presser foot legs 1' are a pair of folder guides 46 which extend laterally inward, respectively across the respective arms A l, the same having down-turned guide lips 41, spaced from the inner sides of said arms 44. Said guide lips 4''! have descending oblique edges 48 extending from their outer ends toward their inner ends. The cutter-blade 42 passes between the opposed folder guides.

In the operation of the described modified arrangement, material 8, as it approaches the sewing mechanism of the machine, rides onto the support 13 and bridges across the arms 44 thereof, being stretched across the latter by the holding effect of the presser foot legs 1. The central portion of material 8 passes beneath the guide lips t? of folder guides 45 as it approaches and is engaged by the reciprocating cutter-blade 42. Said cutter-blade severs the material so as to divide the same longitudinally, the margins bordering the cut respectively passing between the support arms 44 and folder guides G6, so as to form downwardly turned marginal folds 8' bordering an intermediate opening 8", thus formed between the severed portions of the material. As the material continues to advance toward the sewing and embroidering mechanisms, said down-turned folds 8 respectively enter and move through the respective turn-over or hemmer guides 45, whereby the same are folded under the margins of the intermediate opening 8" (see Fig. 14). As the material is thus cut and folded, the folded margin thereof are advanced beneath the sewing needles 5-6 and the embroidering thread applying mechanism as above described, so that the embroidering thread I i is looped back and forth across the opening 8", with the loop ends respectively lying on the material bordering the latter, whereupon the sewing mechanism stitches down said loops by the running stitches formed thereby, thus producing the open-work effect, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14.

From the above description it will be apparent that this invention provides a very efiicient and smoothly operating machine for the purposes mentioned, and one capable of high speed operation.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the above described constructions, and that widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof; it is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. In a sewing machine, a two-needle sewing mechanism, and means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to said sewing mechanism and in the path of operation of the needles of the latter, comprising a single laterally oscillatable distributer means to deposit said embroidering thread, and means to advance and retract said distributer means, in timed relation to its lateral oscillations, longitudinally across the path of needle movement and in timed relation to said needle movements, whereby straight running stitches are sewn across the loops of the deposited embroidering thread.

2. In a sewing machine, a two-needle sewing mechanism, a drive shaft therefor, and means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to said sewing mechanism and in the path of operation of the needles of the latter, comprising a carriage, a substantially vertical spindle journaled in said carriage, an embroidering thread distributing means carried by said spindle, means actuated from said drive shaft for oscillating said spindle to swing said distributing means laterally back and forth in timed relation to operative movements of the sewing needles, and means also actuated from said drive shaft for oscillating said carriage to advance and retract said distributing means longitudinally across the path of said needles, said latter actuating means being adapted to operate in timed relation both to the lateral swinging movements of said distributing means and to the operative movements of said needles.

3. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism and drive shaft therefore, saidsewing mechanism including laterally spaced vertically reciprocable sewing needles, and means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to said sewing needles and alternately in the path of operation of the respective needles, comprising an oscillatable car riage behind said sewing needles, a substantially vertical spindle journaled in said carriage, a distributer arm on the lower end portion of said spindle projecting toward said sewing needles, an embroidering thread carrier at the free end of said distributer arm,means actuated from said drive shaft for rocking said spindle to swing said distributer arm and carrier laterally back and forth in timed relation to operative movements of the sewing needles, and means also actuated from said drive shaft to longitudinally oscillate said carriage to advance and retract said distributer arm carrier across the path of sewing needle movement during both the leftward and rightward swing of said distributer arm and carrier and also in timed relation to operative movements of the sewing needles.

4. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism and drive shaft therefor, said sewing mechanism including laterally spaced vertically reciprocable sewing needles, and means to apply embroidering thread to be stitched down upon material subjected to said sewing needles; comprising a carriage pivoted to swing in a vertical plane behind said sewing needles, a substantially vertical spindle journaled in and dependent from said carriage, a distributer arm on the lower end portion of said spindle projecting toward said sewing needles, an embroidering thread carrier at the free end of said distributer arm, a lever arm on the upper end portion of said spindle, a horizontally rotatable crank driven by said drive shaft, a connecting rod between said crank and lever arm, said crank operating to swing said distributer arm and carrier laterally back and forth in timed relation to operative movements of said sewing needles, a vertically rotatable crank also driven by said drive shaft and operatively' connected with the free end of said carriage, said latter crank operating to oscillate said carriage to advance and retract said distributer arm carrier longitudinally across the vertical plane of sewing needle movement, and timed transmission means for said cranks whereby the rotative cycle of the vertically rotatable crank is at two to one ratio relative to the rotative cycle of the horizontally rotatable crank so that the distributer arm carrier is advanced and retracted as the same swings laterally first in one direction and then the other, relative to the respective paths of movement of said sewing needles.

5. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism having laterally spaced vertically reciprocable sewing needles, a carriage pivoted to swing in a vertical plane behind said needles, a substantially vertical spindle journaled in and dependent from said carriage, a distributer arm projecting to- Ward said needles from the lower portion of said spindle, a perforate embroidering thread carrier on said arm, said arm being pivoted by said spindle in a vertical plane at right angles to the transverse plane of said needles and intersecting the latter plane midway between said needles, means to laterally swing said arm and carrier alternately and laterally across the paths of movement of the respective needles and in timed relation to operative movements thereof, and means to oscillate said carriage to advance and retract the carrier longitudinally across the path of each needle in company with lateral swinging movements of the carrier relative to each needle.

6. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism comprising a vertically reciprocable needle bar carrying laterally spaced needles and a material feed means including a presser foot; means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to said sewing mechanism, comprising laterally oscillatable distributer means to deposit said embroidering thread alternately in the path of the respective needles and means to advance and retract said distributer means during such depositing operations longitudinally across the path of needle movement to loop said embroidering thread so that the loops are sewn to the material by running stitches produced by the sewing mechanism; means in advance of and intermediate said needles for longitudinally serving the material, and means for in-folding the severed marginal portions of the material whereby the same are hemmed by the loop securing stitches produced by the sewing mechanism.

'7. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism comprising a vertically reciprocable needle bar carrying laterally spaced needles and a material feed means including a presser foot; means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to saidsewing mechanism, comprising laterally oscillatable distributer means to deposit said embroidering thread alternately in the path of the respective needles and means to advance and retract said distributer means during such depositing operations longitudinally across the path of needle movement to loop said embroidering thread so that the loops are sewn to the material by running stitches produced by the sewing mechanism; a cutter-blade carried and reciprocated by said needle bar in forwardly offset relation to said needles and in a vertical plane intermediate the latter, means to support said material subject to severing operation of said cutter-blade thereon, and means for in-folding the severed marginal portions of the material whereby the same are hemmed by the loop securing stitches produced by the sewing mechanism.

8. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism comprising a vertically reciprocable needle bar carrying laterally spaced needles and a material feed means including a presser foot; means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to said sewing mechanism, comprising laterally oscillatable distributer means to deposit said embroidering thread alternately in the path of the respective needles and means to advance and retract said distributer means during such depositing operations longitudinally across the path of needle movement to loop said embroidering thread so that the loops are sewn to the material by running stitches produced by the sewing mechanism; a cutter-blade carried and reciprocated by said needle bar in forwardly off-set relation to said needles and in a vertical plane intermediate the latter, material lifting and supporting means having a bifurcate end between the arms of which said cutter-blade reciprocates, said presser foot having a b-ifurcate free end to straddle said supporting means to hold the material thereto, and means for in-folding the severed marginal portions of the material whereby the same are hemmed by the loop securing stitches produced by the sewing mechanism.

9. In a sewing machine, a sewing mechanism comprising a vertically reciprocable needle bar carrying laterally spaced needles and a material feed means including a presser foot; means to loop embroidering thread transversely back and forth upon material subjected to said sewing mechanism, comprising laterally oscillatable distributer means to deposit said embroidering thread alternately in the path of the respective needles and means to advance and retract said distributer means during such depositing operations longitudinally across the path of needle movement to loop said embroidering thread so that the loops are sewn to the material by running stitches produced by the sewing mechanism; a cutter-blade carried and reciprocated by said needle bar in forwardly ofiset relation to said needles and in a vertical plane intermediate the 10 latter, material lifting and supporting means having a bifurcate end between the arms of which said cutter blade reciprocates, said presser foot having a bifurcate free end to straddle said supporting means to hold the material thereto, guide members carried by said presser foot, said guide members having lips to down-turn the severed marginal portions of the material into the bifurcate end of said supporting means, and hemmer guides between said supporting means and the sewing needles to fold under said marginal portions whereby the same are hemmed by the loop securing stitches produced by the mechanism.

EMIL PRAZAK.

sewing 10 

